Running Back High

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Year after year, the Paola Panthers football program keeps churning out star running backs. In turn, those running backs keep churning out the yards.

Paola’s Skylar Hawkins just wrapped up a career for the Panthers where he rushed for about 6,000 yards and 80 touchdowns.

However, large rushing totals are nothing new to Paola. Hawkins is just the most recent in a long line of star running backs to play for this Class 4A school.

The likes of Sean Wilson, Darren Dawson, Brian Shay, Josh Shay, Matt Shay and Hawkins have made Paola known as the state’s running back factory.

Paola coach Michael Dumpert said it has a lot to do with attitude.

“Having talented running backs over the years doesn’t hurt the cause at all,” he said. “The way we run the football really exemplifies the mindset that was started back in 1979 when Jim Lee began as head coach. He thought to be successful, we had to be a hard-nosed team that ran the football.

“We’re going to run the football as long as I’m head coach here,” Dumpert said. “The people here are used to that brand of football and it has bred success. It’s a heck of a lot easier to promote that philosophy when you’re winning with it.”

The success also has to do with a series of strong offensive lines.

“We take an awful lot of pride in our offensive line,” Dumpert said. “They’re the kids who no one knows, but they have been a big part of this.”

A consistent state contender, Paola captured the Class 5A state championship in 1984 and the 4A title in 1994.

And the Panthers did it running the football.

In 1984, Wilson led the way with 1,345 yards on the ground.

Dawson remembers looking up to Wilson as a freshman.

“He was a great player,” Dawson said. “He had all the talent in the world. You don’t find very many of them that good high-school wise. He probably stands out to me more than anyone. The team he was on was the best team Paola’s ever had by far. We won the 5A state championship that year, and I believe we were the smallest 5A school in the state that year.”

Dawson was Paola’s next 1,000-yard rusher, tallying 1,553 yards in 1987.

“Darren Dawson was as good of a cutback runner as I’ve seen,” said Dumpert, who was an assistant coach at the time and is about to begin his 13th season as Paola’s head coach. “With the zone offenses of today, he would have put up even larger numbers.”

Dawson continued his success at college, helping the Pittsburg State Gorillas capture the NCAA Division II national championship in 1991. He is a member of Paola’s and Pittsburg State’s halls of fame.

Brian Shay is likely the program’s most known running back as he dominated Division II for Emporia State University and later played professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Orlando Rage and the Berlin Thunder.

At Paola, the undersized Shay definitely packed a punch. He ran for 1,486 yards in 1993 and 1,786 yards in 1994.

However, Dumpert said his numbers could have been even better.

“Brian was the ultimate team player,” he said. “If we had given him the ball 35 or 40 times a game, he would have challenged every record in the state. He was a very strong and quick young man. He played in our system and averaged about 9 yards a carry.”

A couple more Shays followed in Josh and Matt. Josh Shay rushed for 1,223 yards in 1996, and Matt Shay ran for 1,234 yards in 2005.

Matt and Josh were in the same mold as Brian,” Dumpert said. “They were powerful, and they hit the hole extremely hard.”

And with all of the past success, Hawkins still took it to another level.

The recent graduate, who signed to play at Fort Scott Community College, finished his career as the leading rusher in Paola High’s storied history.

In 2008, he rushed for 2,132 yards and 33 touchdowns. With defenses keying on him, he followed with 1,819 yards in 2009 and 1,654 yards this past year.

“He started for us for four years,” Dumpert said. “I’m not sure of all of his stats, but he had around 6,000 yards. But the thing that sticks out in my mind is that he had 36 100-yard games. I think consistency is what really demonstrates greatness. He wasn’t a flash in the pan. He was a marked man after this sophomore year and still put up great numbers.”

However, just because Hawkins is graduating, don’t think Paola’s string of running backs is over.

Tyler Henness rushed for 1,200 yards last year, and Tanner Staats is poised to take Hawkins’ role.

“People in our league are aware of Tyler Henness,” Dumpert said. “He’s going to be a senior, and we’re expecting very big things out him.”

The Panthers also have high expectations for Staats.

“Tanner Staats is a very good running back,” Dumpert said. “We feel like there is going to be very little to no drop-off with him. We feel like he is one of the best kept secrets around. He still ran for like 600 yards last year. The world is going to find out this kid can play.”

So expect more of the same in Paola. More option offense. More hard-nosed football.

And more great running backs.

“Guys in Paola grow up wanting to be running backs,” Dawson said. “Kids from grade school on see what running backs at Paola have done. If you go to Paola’s football stadium, you’ll see pictures of past players. There’s a giant metal sign outside of the locker room with all of the accolades Brian Shay had. I think the young kids see that, and it definitely plays a role in kids wanting to be the next great running back at Paola.”